SEQUIM — Three free seminars will be held today (Thursday) by Phil Castell and the staff of Castell Insurance to discuss the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.

Castell will talk about the sign-up period that begins Oct. 1, the workings of the state healthcare exchange, how to shop for a health-care plan, pluses and minuses of the four levels of plans available — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — and the availability of tax credits.

Come Jan. 1, virtually all Americans will be required to have health insurance, or face fines.

"My office has devoted many hundreds of hours to learning everything possible about this subject," says Castell. He and his staff have attended classes by the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner and met with insurance companies that will offer health plans.

Today's three seminars will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 1441 E. Washington St., in Sequim.

Two more seminars will follow in the same location from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. this coming Monday.